The Ride level classification system has been changed and amended over the years. I was not with SBRA when it was born in 1977. I do not know what the original Pace level structure was.?? I know the system has been revised several times seance I joined in 1992 or 1993 .

Every time it was revised the ride levels went up and got faster. Members want to enjoy there newer faster bikes and still ride with there same group of friends and stay in there own pace letter group. Why don't riders simply move up to the next level?? I believe I can answer that question.

I believe there are two glass ceilings in SBRA. The Fri st one was created in the 2001 Dick Cunningham ride level reforms. On B- to B+ level rides thee are no requirements to wait up for Stragglers. OK the group will try and wait up and regroup at the lunch stop. What if a rider gets dropped and gets a flat tire and breaks down. Maybe a rider makes a wrong turn and gets lost. He or she is on there own.

I know of a rider or two that quit SBRA over this policy. Most of the non Mani cal members of the B group moved down to the C+ group. They became pace pushers or hammer Heads .They wanted a structured ride but wanted and are capable of biking at an honest B- or B pace. The SBRA solution seems to be to move up the numbers on a C+ ride or adapt the Average speed and move up the riding speed.

The Other Glass ceiling is the Rule that all A and Above riders must ride in a pace line format. There were a lot of ideas in the B level group how pushed the ride pace to an A level. They did not want to ride in a pace line or did not know how. Maybe they did not ride safely in a pace line and were kicked out of the A group.

THE SBRA solution was to create the B+ ride . This kept some of the pace pushers off the Honest B rides. Then the B+ started turning into A rides. Then someone came up with the idea of Creating the B+ to A- ride and moved up the max ride average. The faster riders are ready to move up to the A level but they cannot or will not ride in a pace line ride.

MY solution to this Ride level classification debate is to simply remove the two SBRA glass ceilings that prevent riders from climbing up the pace level latter. Make all ride classification Structured like the C+ to D - level rides perhaps with less frequent stops. Give the ride leader the option to structure or lead the ride as a Unstructured ride. Ce rate a policy on a U ride across the board with the Exception of a a D level ride will not wait for stragglers.